Author: Editorial Board

At the U.S.–Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., HUMAIN — a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company specializing in full-stack artificial intelligence solutions — announced a landmark framework agreement with xAI, the frontier AI company founded by Elon Musk. The partnership marks one of the most significant U.S.–Saudi collaborations in emerging technology, laying the foundation for the Kingdom’s next-generation AI compute infrastructure and enabling the nationwide deployment of xAI’s Grok models to support Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become “the world’s most AI-enabled nation.” Building One of the World’s Largest AI Compute Hubs Under the agreement, HUMAIN and xAI will jointly design,…

In a strategic move that strengthens its position as a regional innovation leader, Qewam Holding has officially acquired Iwan Ventures, a SAR 50 million venture capital fund. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Qewam’s mission to scale transformative ventures and accelerate Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Under the deal, Iwan Ventures will be rebranded as Q Fund, which will now serve as Qewam Holding’s dedicated and independent investment arm. While retaining its entrepreneurial autonomy, Q Fund will gain full access to Qewam’s AI-driven infrastructure, venture-building capabilities, and expansive strategic network—positioning it as a high-impact engine for early-stage growth…

Takadao, the Web3 platform pioneering bankless, community-owned financial alternatives, has closed a US$1.5 million seed round, bringing its total funding to US$3.1 million. The round attracted a globally diverse group of investors aligned with Takadao’s mission and its shariah-compliant financial ecosystem. Participants included Hasan VC (Malaysia), Syla Invest (France), Wahed Ventures (UK), Ice Blue Fund (Japan), Istari Ventures (US), and Adverse (Saudi Arabia), alongside follow-on funding from Draper Associates in Silicon Valley. Introducing the LifeCard: A VISA-Powered Bridge Between Web3 and Everyday Finance Alongside the funding, Takadao unveiled The LifeCard, a prepaid VISA card that allows users to spend stablecoins…

Founded by Harsh Sajnani (CEO) and Guilherme Soares (COO)—third-generation operators with deep roots across MENA and Latin America—Kingpin was built to solve one of the industry’s biggest pain points: the fragmented, slow, and manual nature of wholesale trade. By connecting people, products, pricing, and processes in one AI-native ecosystem, Kingpin enables companies to manage discovery, sales, fulfilment, and operations with unprecedented efficiency. “We’re building Kingpin with a first-hand understanding of the industry’s biggest challenges—from customer discovery to order management and financing,” said Sajnani. “The AI era allows us to merge technology and operational expertise to deliver real value.” Soares added:…

Nuxera AI, a Saudi-based health-tech startup, has raised $2.5 million in pre-seed funding from Sanabil Venture Studio by Redesign Health, marking a major step in the company’s mission to transform clinical workflows through Arabic-first artificial intelligence (AI) designed for healthcare providers across the Kingdom. Founded by Amin El Hemaily (CEO), Asad Khan (CTO), and Nada Hassan (CCO), Nuxera AI is tackling one of the region’s biggest technology gaps: AI built natively for Arabic-speaking clinicians and hospitals. The company aims to become the region’s leading AI hub for healthcare, supporting both public health clusters and private hospitals with scalable, intelligent automation.…

Dubai, UAE — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has unveiled a new national campaign titled “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World”, aimed at solidifying the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. The campaign, supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office and the UAE Entrepreneurship Council, brings together more than 50 incubators, accelerators, and strategic partners from both the public and private sectors. According to the announcement, the initiative seeks to inspire a new…

Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence investment platform MGX has joined a $6.6 billion secondary share sale in OpenAI, marking one of the largest private AI transactions of 2025 and valuing the ChatGPT maker at around $500 billion, according to Reuters. The deal allows OpenAI’s employees and early investors to liquidate part of their holdings but does not inject new capital into the company. The round was led by existing institutional investors — including Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer, T. Rowe Price, and now MGX, the emirate’s sovereign-backed vehicle focused on AI investments. Strategic Alignment OpenAI operates under a capped-profit structure and has…

DOO, the AI-powered customer experience platform transforming how enterprises engage with their customers, has announced the close of its $1.7 million funding round led by Merak Capital, with participation from Plus VC and other strategic regional investors. Founded by a team of seasoned technologists and entrepreneurs, DOO leverages advanced natural language processing and deep regional linguistic expertise to deliver seamless, AI-driven support tailored to Arabic dialects and cultural nuances. This localized approach has fueled rapid adoption among enterprises across the GCC, where customer expectations are increasingly shaped by speed, personalization, and accessibility across digital channels. With its headquarters in Riyadh,…

For the first time in its history, Money20/20—the world’s leading event for payments, fintech, and the broader financial ecosystem—will be held in the Middle East. From 15 to 17 September 2025, the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center (RECC) will welcome thousands of innovators, investors, and policymakers for three days of discussions, deal-making, and inspiration. More than 450 global brands, 350+ visionary speakers, and 600+ investors are expected to attend, making it one of the most significant financial technology gatherings ever staged in the region. With sessions covering digital banking, payments innovation, open finance, AI in financial services, and the future…

Personal growth doesn’t stop after childhood—it evolves with us. As kids, our parents, teachers, and caregivers help set the path. But once we step into adulthood, the responsibility shifts. Setting goals and striving for growth becomes our own job. Self-development isn’t a straight line. Life will constantly throw new challenges our way, often when we least expect them. These challenges call for new skills and fresh perspectives. The good news? Working on yourself—setting goals, reflecting, and growing—is some of the most rewarding work you’ll ever do. And if you’re just beginning, don’t worry. Start small. Why Soft Skills Matter Hard…